The Graduate Student Government met on April 5 to hear about a variety of topics, including accessibility across campus.

In his report, GSG President Nathan Ford discussed the Accessibility Survey of Campus. The survey hopes to improve accessibility across campus and is looking for volunteers to survey areas of external entrances, bathrooms, elevators, and internal doors. “Campus is a big place, so we need some extra hands to help us evaluate,” said Ford. Any graduate student, undergraduate student, faculty member, or staff may volunteer. Those interested in volunteering or wishing to find out additional information can email Ford at gsg-president@mtu.edu or find the event on GivePulse.

During the public comments portion of the meeting, GSG representatives Emily Shaw and Gabriel Ahrendt introduced a letter of support to the service and maintenance workers of the American Federation of State, Country, and Municipality Employees (AFSCME). It calls for  higher wages for union members and returning union work back to union workers. The letter was passed by a vote of 16-10-1 and will be sent to the president of the union and the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees.

The Recommendation for a Campus-Wide Grammarly EDU License Purchase was passed in a 26-0-1 vote, following a survey signaling heavy student enjoyment. The recommendation is now waiting for letters of support from the Undergraduate Student Government and the University Senate.

GSG General body also elected its principal chairs for the next academic year. These included Michael Maurer for Research Chair, Bayle Golden for Professional Development Chair, and Roya Bagheri for Social Chair. Laura Vidal Chiesa was re-elected to the position of Public Relations Chair. They will assume office on May 1.

While this week saw a closure at Tech due to a winter storm, last week saw warm weather and sunshine. To celebrate this glimpse into spring, we went around campus to ask students: “How did you enjoy last week’s warm weather?” Here is what they had to say:

“I got to sit on the KBC deck and enjoy lunch on the porch in the sun.”

—Kira Millhausen, fifth-year Chemical Engineering student

“I got to open the windows, enjoy the sunshine, and work on my truck.”

—Hannah Peterson, fourth-year Chemical Engineering student

“Stuck inside with Mathematica bullshit, but got outside eventually and just sat and enjoyed the weather.”

—Andrew Quillan, second-year Mechanical Engineering student

“Went for a drive around the Copper Country and enjoyed the sun by sitting on the lawn. Also got to visit my family downstate.”

—Luke Tennes, second-year Construction Management student

“I played ultimate frisbee at the football field on both Saturday and Sunday.”

—Ethan Gerds, fourth-year Social Sciences student

Week eight is coming to a close. With midterms, scheduling, and graduation on the minds of many Huskies, we are ready for some time off. Thankfully, Spring Break is here to give us this much-needed relief. To celebrate, we asked students: “What are your plans for Spring Break?” Here is what they had to say:

“Going home and enjoying time with my cats.”

—Rachel Hartrick, fourth-year Computer Science student

“Getting work done and having fun.”

—Greg Redlon, third-year Mechanical Engineering student

“Wisdom teeth taken out and building a deck.”

—Zach Reed, third-year Mechanical Engineering student

“I am staying in Houghton and hosting my little sister for a few days to show her the Keewenaw.”

—Amanda West, second-year Mechanical engineering student

“Going to Alabama with a bunch of my fraternity brothers.”

—Ian Boulis, fifth-year Mathematics student

The President’s Council on Mental Health and Well-being met on Feb. 18 to discuss Dean of Students Dr. Wallace Southerland’s safety messaging and to review Winter Carnival.

The council went over Dr. Southerland’s previous safety messaging and discussed the safety messaging they hope to see moving forward. Regarding substance use and sexual activity, council members expressed their desires to avoid abstinence messaging. “It’s almost dangerous to say don’t drink,” said council member Sarah Dowd. 

Regarding sexual activity, Academic and Community Conduct representative Laura Putwen echoed Dowd’s sentiments. “Preaching abstinence: it’s dangerous,” Putwen noted.

Council Chair Whitney Boroski gave a brief report on Winter Carnival. “We heard from Public Safety that this was one of our safest Winter Carnivals in a long time,” Boroski said. Additionally, Boroski reported on the success of the Winter Carnival events the council was involved in: during the All-Nighter, the council hosted a Cocoa and Condoms event. They ran out of supplies at 11:30, starting the night with 200 condoms. The annual Glow Shoe event saw success as well, with 324 individuals participating. “It went really, really well,” Boroski reported.

The council’s mocktail event, held in collaboration with the MUB Board also well attended. “Mocktails went really, really great.” Boroski attributed much of the success to the ability of the drinks to be pre-prepared in advance “simple I think was key,” she said. The event, which was hosted in collaboration with the MUB Board, saw around 500 non-alcoholic drinks distributed.“We’re hoping to do it again next year,” Boroski said.

The President’s Council on Mental Health and Well-being met on Feb. 18 to discuss Dean of Students Dr. Wallace Southerland’s safety messaging and to review Winter Carnival.

The council went over Dr. Southerland’s previous safety messaging and discussed the safety messaging they hope to see moving forward. Regarding substance use and sexual activity, council members expressed their desires to avoid abstinence messaging. “It’s almost dangerous to say don’t drink,” said council member Sarah Dowd. 

Regarding sexual activity, Academic and Community Conduct representative Laura Putwen echoed Dowd’s sentiments. “Preaching abstinence: it’s dangerous,” Putwen noted.

Council Chair Whitney Boroski gave a brief report on Winter Carnival. “We heard from Public Safety that this was one of our safest Winter Carnivals in a long time,” Boroski said. Additionally, Boroski reported on the success of the Winter Carnival events the council was involved in: during the All-Nighter, the council hosted a Cocoa and Condoms event. They ran out of supplies at 11:30, starting the night with 200 condoms. The annual Glow Shoe event saw success as well, with 324 individuals participating. “It went really, really well,” Boroski reported.

The council’s mocktail event, held in collaboration with the MUB Board also well attended. “Mocktails went really, really great.” Boroski attributed much of the success to the ability of the drinks to be pre-prepared in advance “simple I think was key,” she said. The event, which was hosted in collaboration with the MUB Board, saw around 500 non-alcoholic drinks distributed.“We’re hoping to do it again next year,” Boroski said.

Snow showers and midterms have been keeping many Michigan Tech students indoors. Our campus is full of locations great for studying, catching up with friends, or taking in the views. To honor these spots, we asked students: “What is your favorite building on campus and why?” Here is what they had to say:

“MUB. The Commons area is the best place for lunch and for meetings. Plus, events with food at the MUB are the best meals on campus.”

—Ella Faulk, third-year Mathematics student

“The M&M. I love walking the path near the Pavlis Honors College. The view of the Portage is breathtaking.”

—Grayson Rayes, third-year Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics student

“The MUB for the food and activities.”

—Jacob Rokas, third-year Business student

“Fisher, because it connects to Rekhi, and that connects to the library so I can use it when it is cold out.”

—Diamond Davis, second-year Chemistry student

“The M&M. It has the best study spaces and is often less concentrated than other buildings.”

—Caleb Minasion, third-year Materials Science and Engineering student

“Fisher. Studying in empty classrooms is nice.”

—Eric Smith, third-year Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics student

Snow showers and midterms have been keeping many Michigan Tech students indoors. Our campus is full of locations great for studying, catching up with friends, or taking in the views. To honor these spots, we asked students: “What is your favorite building on campus and why?” Here is what they had to say:

“MUB. The Commons area is the best place for lunch and for meetings. Plus, events with food at the MUB are the best meals on campus.”

—Ella Faulk, third-year Mathematics student

“The M&M. I love walking the path near the Pavlis Honors College. The view of the Portage is breathtaking.”

—Grayson Rayes, third-year Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics student

“The MUB for the food and activities.”

—Jacob Rokas, third-year Business student

“Fisher, because it connects to Rekhi, and that connects to the library so I can use it when it is cold out.”

—Diamond Davis, second-year Chemistry student

“The M&M. It has the best study spaces and is often less concentrated than other buildings.”

—Caleb Minasion, third-year Materials Science and Engineering student

“Fisher. Studying in empty classrooms is nice.”

—Eric Smith, third-year Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics student

Michigan Tech’s students are back to hitting the books after the Winter Carnival centennial celebration. Before getting busy again with class projects and midterms, we asked students: “What did you do over Winter Carnival?” Here is what they had to say:

“I enjoyed walking through campus on All-Nighter and seeing the statues, as well as broomball!”

—Hunter McGuire, third-year Mechanical Engineering student

“Went skiing at Mount Bohemia twice. Also skied at the Mont Ripley GS race.”

—Ben Holland, Masters Environmental Engineering student

“I did a lot of snow activities like skiing and snowshoeing, and ended Carnival by dancing at the Snoball.”

—Theresa Passe, Masters Environmental Engineering student

“My family and I walked around campus and looked at the statues, and enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate while watching a game of broomball.”

—Bella DiCastri, second-year Computational Chemistry student

“Took some time off to enjoy skiing and some broomball action!”

—Charles Hazel, third-year Mechanical Engineering student

It’s the 100th Winter Carnival! To celebrate, we asked alumni to look back. We asked “What is your favorite Winter Carnival memory?” Here is what they had to say:

My favorite memory is the way campus felt … feels … during Carnival. The chemistry and the physics and the engineering of the people and the structures changed, and I think we saw each other differently those few days each winter. It was exhilarating to simply be part of it, to be involved in whatever it was going to be, to help create — a statue or a team or a skit. Who can’t appreciate the act of stepping through a construction zone of a statue on Wednesday afternoon and finding there a completed work of art Thursday morning?

—Brenda (Polk) Garland, B.S. Scientific and Technical Communication 1999

Working on the BC Comic Strip sculpture in 1982 with my future husband (Glen Miller, Sno House, BSME 1984).  It collapsed and everyone left but we stayed and rebuilt it through the night.

—Cindi Anderson, Good Intentions, B.S. Electrical Engineering 1985

Meeting my future husband for the first time the All Nighter of my freshmen year.  Married 25 years as of this summer.

—Debra (Gustavson) Switzer, 1997

I was part of a group for first year commuter students and we did a statue in the overnight division. I wanted to really experience Winter Carnival so I hauled buckets of water to our statue site from a tap in the first floor of the EERC building, fueled by ghost pepper hot chocolate. By my second year I was writing for the LODE and covered Winter Carnival in that capacity for the next few years before graduating to cover Winter Carnival for the Daily Mining Gazette, so I was around the statues and rinks for a number of years and always enjoyed it but I feel like that first year was the only time that I got to do it for the sake of doing it.

—Jon Jaehnig, B.S. Scientific and Technical Communication 2011

“Getting pancakes in Fisher Hall during the All-Nighter. Great time to warm up, and share the Winter Carnival spirit with friends.”

—Andy Van Dyke, B.S. Forestry 2011  

“I honestly just remember enjoying some time off from class and walking around campus during carnival. It was a great atmosphere. Also, someone built a giant (over a story tall) toilet statue in front of DHH and after judging my friend put on some crampons and climbed it.”

—Jackie Jiran, B.S. Civil Engineering 1996

“Statue building for Delta Zeta will always be a fond memory of Winter Carnival. I recall getting clean, fresh snow from our garage roof when we lived at 1111 College Avenue and then jumping off the roof into the pile of snow with a bunch of sisters. We successfully captured the moment in mid-air with our 35mm film camera – not an easy feat.”

—Kristin Kolodge, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1995

“One of my best memories is building a snow statue my freshman year in front of Wads Hall between the Cafeteria and what was the Student Health Clinic (I think there is a nice plaza there now).  Our statue was “Working in a Snow Mine,” a play on words from the hit song by Devo, “Working in a Coal Mine”.  Even now when I hear that song, I think of that snow statue.”

—Scott McBain, B.S. Civil Engineering 1986

“My favorite memory of Winter Carnival was my last year at Tech and I was the Stage Revue chair for the Blue Key Society. Leading a small, but dedicated committee to wrangle many student organizations, fraternities, and sororities and facilitating an incredibly entertaining night of fun for the community around the theme of “Games We Know Captured in the Snow.” My parents, aunt, and uncle even came up from IL to support and check out the festivities!”

—Jenna Joestgen, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering 2010

“My wife and I got engaged while snowshoeing out at McLains during winter carnival 2014 while visiting as alumni.”

—Dan Madrid, B.S. Computer Networking & Systems Administration 2010

Michigan Tech’s Center for Mental Health and Well-Being has been providing online, remote therapy to students through the My Student Support System (My SSP) app for some time. Now, students have begun to weigh in on the success of the program, voicing both positive and negative concerns. The app currently has a 3.3 rating out of 5 on the Apple app store and a 3.5 out of 5 on the Play store, reflecting this mix of opinions. 

Aster Moen, second-year at Michigan Tech spoke with The Lode of their experience. “When I had reached out… they just referred me to My SSP,” Moen said. “There’s the wait time which is ridiculous. I think I waited for almost 40 minutes before being connected to someone.” In addition to this dissatisfaction, Moen expressed that the therapists they were connected to through My SSP were “insensitive” and “harmful.” When asked what they would say to another student inquiring about My SSP, Moen said, “try and press to get in-person counseling through Tech. And if you can’t do that, try and get a therapist up here.”

Another student, fourth-year Rebecca Stover, lent her experiences as well. Stover described herself as “a little skeptical,” preferring “in-person interactions.” However, Stover said she was later “pleasantly surprised.” “They were very unbiased.” Stover said, “and very much…Hey, we’re going to solve this together.” Stover reported her waiting time to be closer to “15 to 20 minutes.” When asked what they would say to another student inquiring about My SSP, Stover said that she still prefers in-person. “I like to be able to have a person to look at,” Stover said. Still, she encouraged students to “have this on your phone.” 

Despite her positive experiences, Stover noted imperfections within the app. “I was transferred between like three separate people to text with… I’d have to repeat almost everything I say which wasn’t helpful.” Stover also reported that after being told she would be sent additional resources after sessions, therapists would, “either would forget or send it like four or five days late.”

Addressing these concerns, Crystal McLeod, a clinical counselor at the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being, stressed that My SSP is “intended to provide students with options.” Addressing dissatisfaction with call-back times, McLeod stated that “My SSP representatives report that the goal is to do so within one hour,” and that, “it really just depends on that call-back volume at the time.” Regarding multiple transfers within a session, McLeod said that “it shouldn’t be the case that one is passed along multiple therapists,” but that, “it may be the case that a student is presenting with a concern [or] need that would require consultation with another licensed mental health professional.” McLeod also stated that “it is acceptable for a client to request a new counselor if the client feels it is not a good fit. If a client… feels there was a problem in the interaction that they would like to report, there is a Feedback option on the first page of the My SSP app.”

In terms of efficiency, McLeod said that “if we considered My SSP a clinician, it is operating at a one clinician capacity.” This marks an increase from three-quarters of a clinician in November.

The availability of mental health resources on campus remains important especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The need for mental health services has increased significantly since COVID,” said Leslie Griffith, Outpatient Program Director at Copper Country Mental Health Services (CCMH). “Youth and young adults have been highlighted nationally for this need.” When asked about advice for students who had struggled with the availability of mental health resources Griffith answered, “I would say ask for help. Stigma exists but don’t let that stop you from seeking out the support that you need.” 

Tim Payment, Dual Diagnostic Therapist at North Coast Counseling Services echoed these sentiments, “Be persistent,” Payment said. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health challenge, you can contact Dial Help at (800) 562-7622, CCMH at (906) 482-9400, MTU Counseling services at (906) 487-2538, North Coast Counseling at (906) 523-5580, or Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) at (844) 4464-225